The Failure of a Particular Study to Support a Theory

question 7

Multiple Choice

The failure of a particular study to support a theory:

• A) Provides the basis for rejecting the theory as useless or insignificant
• B) Means that the particular study must have flaws in its design or execution in specifying and collecting the data
• C) Threatens the theory, if repeated or more refined studies fail to support it with empirical evidence
• D) Means that the hypothesis was too broad, and did not specify the particular circumstances and conditions in enough detail

---

Definitions:

Variable-Ratio

A reinforcement schedule where a response is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses, promoting high and steady response rates.

Contingency

A future event or circumstance that is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty, often used in psychology to describe the relationship between behavior and its consequences.

DRO

Differential Reinforcement of Other behavior, a technique used in behavioral therapy to encourage the occurrence of desired behaviors by only rewarding behaviors other than the undesirable one.

Variable-Ratio

A reinforcement pattern in which a reaction is rewarded following a random number of responses, resulting in consistent and elevated rates of response.